Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male or female 18-60 years of age.
* Patients with total scores ≥ 8 on the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) and scores ≥ 2 for each symptom including heartburn and/or regurgitation.
* Ability to read, understand and provide informed consent.
* Currently not receiving any intervention to treat GERD.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Have any current symptoms related to a structural disease that has been confirmed by endoscopy (e.g., gastrointestinal cancer, eosinophilic esophagitis, candida esophagitis, peptic ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, pyloric stenosis, etc.).
* With known inflammatory bowel disease or other serious disease (hepatic, renal, respiratory, or cardiac disease) or rare genetic diseases (such as fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, saccharose-isomaltose deficiency), severe concomitant diseases, or a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
* Have severe dysphagia, hematemesis, weight loss, or hematochezia.
* A history of oesophageal and/or gastrointestinal surgery.
* Current use of drugs affecting treatment and evaluation of GERD including systemic glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, calcium channel blockers, anticholinergics, bisphosphonates, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, clarithromycin, telithromycin, tetracycline, HIV protease inhibitors, rifampin, potassium supplements, iron, quinidine, zidovudine, anticholinergic agents, alpha-adrenergic antagonists, β2-adrenergic agonists, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, dopamine, estrogens, progesterone, narcotic analgesics, nitrates, prostaglandins, theophylline.
* Are being treated with proton-pump inhibitors within the last 14 days, H2-receptor antagonists, or prokinetics within the last 10 days, intake of alginates or antacids within the last 3 days or using any traditional medicine to treat GERD within the last 2 weeks.
* A history of hypersensitivity reaction with PPIs (including their components), catgut or acupuncture or thread embedding acupuncture treatment.
* Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
* Are taking part in any other clinical trials.